Search warrants show a family's attempts to pull the plug on teacher's sexual relationship with student

Psychotherapist Debra Kaplan says dealing with these situations can be tricky for families. But it's always best to turn to law enforcement right away.

Mike Piccarreta says because the girl was almost 18, legally, the family's reporting responsibilities aren't as pressing as it would have been if the girl was under 15.

Search warrants show a family's attempts to pull the plug on teacher's sexual relationship with student

By Marcelino Benito. CREATED May 23, 2013

ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - 9OYS learned the student's father knew about the sexual relationship since December. But only came forward to tell police last week.

In March, police cleared Robert Brush of any inappropriate behavior. But in May, allegations hit Ironwood Ridge High once more.

Here's why: a friend of the 17-year-old victim tells police that the victim told him "that she had sex with Brush on a daily basis, either at his home or take trips to the Phoenix area."

A day later, the victim's father approaches police, "confirming he knew of a sexual relationship since December of 2012."

"I would not criticize a father who's trying to figure out a very touchy, sensitive problem," said criminal defense attorney Mike Piccarreta.

Piccarreta says the father legally did nothing wrong by staying quiet, but only because his daughter was nearly 18.

"You're not allowed to aid the criminal act, but you don't have the reporting requirements," said Piccarreta.

In this case, the father chose to confront the teacher at school. He tells police that's when Brush admitted to having sex with his daughter and sending her sexual videos. He asked Brush to "leave his daughter alone and walk away from her." Brush agreed, but the father told police he heard his daughter and the teacher say "they loved each other."

"At the end of the day love or sex doesn't factor into it, the law is the law," said Debra Kaplan.

Kaplan is a psychotherapist. She says in cases like this, it can be a struggle for the family to figure out what to do.

"It can be a difficult decision," said Kaplan. "One parent may feel differently than the other parent."

That was the case here. The father tells police he didn't come forward before because his wife, "did not approve of getting the police involved."

"Parents tend to want to keep this to themselves," said Kaplan. "They're embarrassed and they want to protect their kids."

But at the end of the day, experts say the best thing to do to protect your child is call police.

Brush's attorney maintains his client's innocence. If Brush is convicted, he could face anywhere from 3 to 12.5 years in prison.

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